LUSTING TO HAVE HER WAY

THE NIGHTMARE

CHAPTER 13

James drove home with Angela reclining beside him in the passenger seat. Sunlight streamed through the windows, highlighting the concern etched across his face.

Angela stared silently at the roof of the car.

"James," she called softly.

James glanced at her.

"You just called me James. I hope you're okay."

"I'm okay."

He smiled faintly.

"Then what happened to 'Honey'? That's what you usually call me. But it's alright. James is my name, and I'm proud of it. Did you want to tell me something?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"Stop the car."

James frowned.

"Why?"

Tears suddenly welled up in Angela's eyes.

"I want to get down here. I want to go back to my parents' house."

James looked at her in confusion.

"Why? What's wrong?"

Her voice trembled.

"I can't bear the thoughts in your mind anymore. Stop pretending. I know you hate me. You're only taking me home so that I'll recover before telling me how much you despise me."

James tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

"I know you've heard terrible things about me. You've already judged me, and I'm now the victim of that judgment."

He looked at her, more confused than sympathetic.

"Angela, what are you talking about? If something is bothering you, we'll discuss it after you've fully recovered. Right now, your health comes first."

She shook her head.

"And that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid. I don't want to recover in your house only to be destroyed by your words. Let me go home. If someday you decide that you still want me, fine. Otherwise..."

Her voice broke.

"I'll always remember you as the best husband I never married."

James' expression hardened.

"No."

He indicated and made a U-turn.

"We're going back to the hospital."

Angela stared at him.

"James, you're embarrassing me. What are you going to tell the doctor?"

"I'll ask for medical advice."

She shook her head violently.

"That's fine, but I won't be there. If you don't stop this car now, I'll jump out."

James kept his eyes on the road.

"You can jump. After all, you're no longer my wife. I only want you well enough to take you back to Port Harcourt, where your parents live."

His voice suddenly grew colder.

"I've finally been told the secret you've been hiding from me."

Angela stared at him.

Then his face seemed to change.

His eyes widened unnaturally.

She recoiled.

"James..."

Her voice trembled.

"Where is James?"

She looked around wildly.

"Who are you? Are you his driver? I want to speak with James."

"I'm James," he replied coldly. "But you no longer deserve to stay with me. That's why I've become someone else... just to let you go."

"Then stop the car," she pleaded.

"Not until we get to the hospital."

His voice became harsher.

"I'll tell the doctor everything Bismarck told me about you, and he'll give you one final injection that will end our relationship."

James turned to look at her.

At that very instant, he failed to notice the speed bump ahead.

The car struck it violently.

The vehicle lurched into the air.

Its tyres screamed against the road as it swerved out of control.

Then, from nowhere, a massive trailer loaded with stones and cattle came crashing toward them.

Angela screamed.

Her eyes flew open.

She bolted upright in the hospital bed, her terrified cry echoing through the private ward.

For several seconds, Angela could not tell where she was. The hospital room seemed to merge with the frightening scene from her dream. Her heart raced as she looked around, searching for the road, the car, and the approaching trailer.

Then she saw James standing beside her bed.

The nightmare began to fade, but the fear it had created remained.

James sprang to his feet.

"Angel!"

He rushed to her side.

"What is it? Are you alright?"

She was trembling violently, her breathing ragged.

A nurse hurried into the room.

"Is everything alright, sir?"

James nodded.

"It's okay. I'll take care of her. If I need you, I'll call."

The nurse smiled politely and left.

James sat beside Angela and gently pulled her into his arms.

"Were you having a nightmare?"

Angela nodded.

"Nightmare is too mild a word."

Her voice quivered.

"It was horror."

She clutched his hand tightly.

"You hit a speed bump... lost control of the car... and..."

She couldn't continue.

She looked into his eyes.

"Honey... tell me you still love me."

James smiled reassuringly.

"Of course I do."

He stroked her hair gently.

"You're safe. It was only a dream."

Then he kissed her forehead.

"I love you, my Angel."

Angela closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself to feel the warmth of his arms around her.

Her fingers tightened around his hand.

"Don't let go of me," she whispered.

James held her closer.

"I won't."

The reassurance sent a painful warmth through her.

She knew she did not deserve the tenderness he was giving her, yet some selfish part of her wanted to hold on to it forever.

But uncertainty still clouded her face.

"I don't believe you."

James frowned.

"Why?"

"If you really loved me, you wouldn't listen to Bismarck."

Her voice dropped to almost a whisper.

"You wouldn't believe anything he told you."

James looked genuinely puzzled.

"Angela... I don't understand."

He studied her carefully.

"Is this another hallucination? Or is something else wrong?"

He started to rise.

"I think I should call the doctor."

Angela quickly caught his arm.

"Honey, don't."

She managed a faint smile.

"I'm alright now. I only needed the medication and some rest."

She squeezed his hand gently.

"The doctor has done enough. Please don't call him back and make him think something is wrong again."

James relaxed.

"That sounds much better."

Angela looked at him intently.

"Then answer one question, and I'll be completely fine."

"I'm listening."

She hesitated.

"What exactly did Bismarck tell you about me?"

James looked surprised.

"I don't know why that's important right now, but if you must know, we only had a brief conversation. I welcomed him, asked him a few personal questions, and that was all."

Angela searched his face.

"But I heard you say, 'So she has been deceiving me all this while. Today, it's all over.'"

She swallowed hard.

"Who were you talking about?"

James could not help smiling.

"So that's what's been troubling you?"

He shook his head.

"I wasn't talking about you."

He leaned back.

"I was talking about Chief Mrs Nneka Madu, the real estate agent handling the sale of some of my properties at Jameseal Estate."

He reached for her hand again.

"Are you feeling better now?"

Angela nodded slowly.

Relief washed over her, but only for a moment.

For a brief moment, the tension in her face eased.

The answer had removed one fear, but it had not erased everything that troubled her.

James noticed the change but did not press her.

James watched her quietly.

He could not shake the feeling that something far deeper was troubling the woman he was about to marry.

For a few moments, neither of them spoke.

Angela rested her head against the pillow while James remained beside her.

The room was quiet again, but the silence between them felt different now.

James had answered her question.

Yet somehow, he knew there was another question behind it.

One she was afraid to ask.

He wondered whether she was protecting herself from something—or protecting someone else.

Whatever the truth was, he knew he would eventually have to understand it.

He studied her face for a moment.

James decided to give her time.

There was no need to force a conversation while she was still recovering.

He gently squeezed her hand.

"Angela."

She looked at him.

"Yes?"

"You know you can tell me anything, don't you?"

She hesitated.

"Yes."

"Then don't be afraid of me."

Her eyes became moist.

"I'm not afraid of you."

James smiled faintly.

"Good."

He leaned closer.

"Because I don't want you carrying unnecessary worries, especially now."

Angela looked at him.

"Now?"

"Our wedding."

Her expression changed slightly.

"October 21 isn't far away."